nod Posted April 4, 2022 Share Posted April 4, 2022 I hear rumblings about the Riccarton Artificial -breakdowns . no trials etc Anyone know the full story? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted April 4, 2022 Share Posted April 4, 2022 I heard rumours but like a lot of things in racing.....whispers behind closed doors....and nothing changes or improves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted April 4, 2022 Share Posted April 4, 2022 Would not be a surprise , had white elephant written all over them (AWT) from the moment they were suggested as many on here speculated. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted April 4, 2022 Share Posted April 4, 2022 (edited) What trials have been cancelled? None scheduled there till 26 April. What's supposedly wrong with it? Edited April 4, 2022 by curious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted April 4, 2022 Share Posted April 4, 2022 1 hour ago, curious said: What trials have been cancelled? None scheduled there till 26 April. What's supposedly wrong with it? Trials there just over a week ago I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted April 4, 2022 Share Posted April 4, 2022 10 hours ago, Doomed said: Trials there just over a week ago I think. Yes, there were trials there 22/3. My feedback says there is no issue. If there is, what is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted April 4, 2022 Share Posted April 4, 2022 Not quite related to @nod's questions but one issue is that it is clearly evident it isn't paying its way. So where is the opex going to come from? Will the South Island racing programme be manipulated to force as many horses as possible to race on the Synthetic Track? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted April 4, 2022 Share Posted April 4, 2022 (edited) I think the SI racing programme is mostly still grass but there will be a series of meetings on the AWT over winter which will provide opportunities for horses that prefer better footing during that time and lessen the wear and tear on grass tracks over winter. What I am trying to understand is what the issue is with the AWT at the moment? There doesn't seem to be any problem with it. The Opex is hardly an issue when the same applies to every track in the country. None come close to paying their way from racing earnings alone. Edited April 4, 2022 by curious 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted April 4, 2022 Share Posted April 4, 2022 1 hour ago, Chief Stipe said: Not quite related to @nod's questions but one issue is that it is clearly evident it isn't paying its way. So where is the opex going to come from? Will the South Island racing programme be manipulated to force as many horses as possible to race on the Synthetic Track? I think that is the idea, yes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeynz Posted April 4, 2022 Share Posted April 4, 2022 3 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: Not quite related to @nod's questions but one issue is that it is clearly evident it isn't paying its way. So where is the opex going to come from? Will the South Island racing programme be manipulated to force as many horses as possible to race on the Synthetic Track? Just had a look at the programming for Riccarton, a Friday feature meeting on June 3 and the midweek day of the National meeting on the synthetic, be interesting guide as to who fronts and who won't. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted April 4, 2022 Share Posted April 4, 2022 1 hour ago, Freda said: I think that is the idea, yes. Well I guess we won't have to worry about slow horses who like give in the ground. Final nail for jumps races if you eliminate the supply. About time NZTR and stakeholders looked to keeping as many horses in training as possible. Wont be enough soon to fund tracks and training centres. I guess Tim Mills will then move to a career in Hospitality. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted April 4, 2022 Share Posted April 4, 2022 24 minutes ago, mikeynz said: Just had a look at the programming for Riccarton, a Friday feature meeting on June 3 and the midweek day of the National meeting on the synthetic, be interesting guide as to who fronts and who won't. I gather you aren't kidding. At least the stuffed turf track won't suffer.....not that it takes much racing to do that. Also saves Opex as they won't have to move the rail so many times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted April 4, 2022 Share Posted April 4, 2022 46 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Well I guess we won't have to worry about slow horses who like give in the ground. Final nail for jumps races if you eliminate the supply. It's already been nailed and eliminated. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted April 5, 2022 Share Posted April 5, 2022 Still love to see some wagering figures for the AWT . Beyond boring to watch as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted April 5, 2022 Share Posted April 5, 2022 5 hours ago, Huey said: Still love to see some wagering figures for the AWT . Beyond boring to watch as well. What is boring about it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeynz Posted April 5, 2022 Share Posted April 5, 2022 No Tyler's in the noms for Riccarton saturday for what is a feature meeting, would they turn up for a synthetic meeting in winter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted April 5, 2022 Share Posted April 5, 2022 8 hours ago, Freda said: It's already been nailed and eliminated. Not flash up here either. Just had a look, but after Wanganui this week, there are two highweights programmed in the entire North Island between now and the end of July. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
All The Aces Posted April 5, 2022 Share Posted April 5, 2022 1 hour ago, curious said: Not flash up here either. Just had a look, but after Wanganui this week, there are two highweights programmed in the entire North Island between now and the end of July. Rubbish 2 at Pukekohe on Sunday 2 at Otaki 14/4 2 at Matamata 20/4 1 at Hawera 27/4 plus a hurdle 2 at Rotorua 29/4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted April 5, 2022 Share Posted April 5, 2022 2 hours ago, mikeynz said: No Tyler's in the noms for Riccarton saturday for what is a feature meeting, would they turn up for a synthetic meeting in winter? Doesn't matter said Bernie. trainers come and go, total numbers remain generally the same apparently. He's the expert on the big money so I suppose he knows. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted April 5, 2022 Share Posted April 5, 2022 4 hours ago, curious said: What is boring about it? everything Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted April 5, 2022 Share Posted April 5, 2022 1 minute ago, Doomed said: Doesn't matter said Bernie. trainers come and go, total numbers remain generally the same apparently. He's the expert on the big money so I suppose he knows. We got a new expert now I believe... apparently he knows what he is talking about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted April 5, 2022 Share Posted April 5, 2022 14 hours ago, curious said: I think the SI racing programme is mostly still grass but there will be a series of meetings on the AWT over winter which will provide opportunities for horses that prefer better footing during that time and lessen the wear and tear on grass tracks over winter. What I am trying to understand is what the issue is with the AWT at the moment? There doesn't seem to be any problem with it. The Opex is hardly an issue when the same applies to every track in the country. None come close to paying their way from racing earnings alone. I wasn't going to comment Curious as I feel I keep repeating myself, but the intention is basically for Riccarton to hold their usual saturday turf meetings and virtually all of the Ashburton, Timaru and Oamaru meetings get moved to the AWT. I'm not sure what the Timaru and Oamaru tracks are being "saved " for as they have hardly any summer meetings. And the horses that "prefer better footing" that you refer to are being moved from grass tracks that usually provide dead tracks (firmer than most NI summer tracks) to an AWT surface that they have never raced on before. I seem to recall the Tylers saying "Yeah close Oamaru we can't stand it, we can't wait to head up to Riccarton and the AWT, that will be a perfect lead up to bog track racing at Riccarton over the National carnival." Although they may have said that on 1 April. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomed Posted April 5, 2022 Share Posted April 5, 2022 2 hours ago, mikeynz said: No Tyler's in the noms for Riccarton saturday for what is a feature meeting, would they turn up for a synthetic meeting in winter? I think you will find they would rather race at their local meeting over Easter. Probably more appreciated there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted April 5, 2022 Share Posted April 5, 2022 Kelvin is taking a small team to Qld for the winter. I assume the lesser lights will remain to prop up some local meetings....but nine hour float trips were one reason he's off for a period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted April 5, 2022 Share Posted April 5, 2022 7 hours ago, Doomed said: I wasn't going to comment Curious as I feel I keep repeating myself, but the intention is basically for Riccarton to hold their usual saturday turf meetings and virtually all of the Ashburton, Timaru and Oamaru meetings get moved to the AWT. I'm not sure what the Timaru and Oamaru tracks are being "saved " for as they have hardly any summer meetings. And the horses that "prefer better footing" that you refer to are being moved from grass tracks that usually provide dead tracks (firmer than most NI summer tracks) to an AWT surface that they have never raced on before. I seem to recall the Tylers saying "Yeah close Oamaru we can't stand it, we can't wait to head up to Riccarton and the AWT, that will be a perfect lead up to bog track racing at Riccarton over the National carnival." Although they may have said that on 1 April. Four or five [ maybe more? ] years ago, there was a meeting held at the CJC to discuss support for an AWT. There were representatives from many clubs as well as trainers, and generally interested parties. Chair Tim Mills was very pro-active in encouraging support, his stance being that to do nothing was not going to improve racing's profile and that to implement an AWT was one way of 'joining the 21st century' with a modern facility. But, a point strongly made, was that for an AWT to succeed, it must be used for racing as well as training, and that meetings would be shifted there to justify the expense. That didn't sit well with representatives from other districts, as you can imagine. But, as Kevin Hughes wryly said later, it doesn't matter what he wants, there isn't the money so it will never happen. This was all before the Messara report. The much-maligned Greg Purcell had been on record as saying, on more than one occasion ' we do not support forced track closures but will work with clubs to assist a voluntary move or merger'. Obviously, that stance was not continued by his successor...and Winston stuck his oar in with the taxpayer bail-out so the die was cast for the AWT's. Not sure what the plan is around the C.D / Taranaki - the opinion of a senior trainer is that it will stuff C.D racing - but the closure of Timaru and Oamaru were part of the grand design. Waimate and Motukarara were already gone, as is Blenheim and Hokitika, with the rest of the Coast hanging on - for now. Rangiora has been off the scene for years, apart from trials [ but not any more ] and now that there has been a call for some grass trials instead of all AWT trials, Ashburton has been co-opted into fulfilling that need. As they are now the only alternative to Riccarton that does pose problems when Ashburton has a racemeeting upcoming. The last trials scheduled there were switched to the AWT because of heavy rain...the decision to no longer use Rangiora for trials might be seen as yet another own goal. A tidy, very handy facility [saving owners/trainers both money and travelling time] and one that is not going to have any issues with an upcoming racemeeting, would be very useful about now. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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